Affidavit of Support - I-134

[CoryL 2]

My daughter (23 yrs old, American Citizen) is engaged to a young man from UK. He has no savings. She is a full-time student with a part-time job and minimal savings. What are her options to satisfy the support requirements to bring the young man to the USA on a Fiance Visa? For her to accrue 16-17k will take a LONG TIME. Any suggestions?

[sassy222 5]

your daughter`s fiancé does not need to have any savings, job or money. it is up to your daughter to prove that she can support him when he come to USA. If your daughter does not have an income either, you can be a co sponsor to the fiancé, you just file in a form showing your income and that the fiancé won`t become a public burden when he comes to the USA.

[hihihi 2]

the other option is you, her parents can be a co sponsor and qualify for the affidavit of support.

[Dohan 133]

She needs an annual income of $19,662 to satisfy the requirement. I assume with a part-time job it doesn't add up to that. She can use a co-sponsor. You can check the income requirements here http://www.usavisanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/i-864p-2014.pdf

If you are willing, you can be the co-sponsor

[CoryL 2]

Helpful replies...

1. It seems the definition of "public burden" is the concern to me as I think about it. I don't have any reason to think he would seek welfare, but, what if he falls down while going for a run and breaks-up his ankle and, without insurance, seeks medical attention at an ER...does that mean I would be liable for a $19,423 (hypothetical amount) payment to the hospital? This would be my significant reluctance to co-sponsor. There is no accounting for accidents.

2. How long does the obligation of co-sponsoring last?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Helpful replies...

1. It seems the definition of "public burden" is the concern to me as I think about it. I don't have any reason to think he would seek welfare, but, what if he falls down while going for a run and breaks-up his ankle and, without insurance, seeks medical attention at an ER...does that mean I would be liable for a $19,423 (hypothetical amount) payment to the hospital? This would be my significant reluctance to co-sponsor. There is no accounting for accidents.

2. How long does the obligation of co-sponsoring last?

You will find the actual forms and the oath you will sign on this page http://www.uscis.gov/forms. You need to read them.

I-134 is submitted to the embassy in London for him to get the visa. It is not enforceable by law. A visa only gets him entrance to marry within 90 days. No other privileges.

I-864 is submitted with his application for a greencard so he can stay and work as a permanent resident once he has married your daughter. It is stricter and enforceable by law. Your obligations are written on on the last page of the form. It is explained there so I won't repeat it here. You can't revoke it even if he turns out to be a loser and cheats on your daughter. It is therefore a serious consideration on your part.

Other things to know. He will not be allowed to work in the US immediately upon his arrival. He will require health insurance according to the Affordable Care Act.

The costs involved to get him to permanent resident status (required fees, not extras like transportation) are--

K1 London route = $1705 + £290

$340 (USCIS) I-129F petition

£45 (ACPO) Police certificate just before petition approval

£245 (Knightsbridge Doctors) medical exam. Pay at exam.

$265 (Embassy) Visa fee prior to interview. Online pay.

$30 Courier fee if home delivery, $0 to pick up at a depot. Online.

$1070 (USCIS) Adjustment of Status/Work Authorization/Advance Parole

Your daughter needs to budget for these costs.

[Dohan 133]

What is said above is true, however. The visa fee, and all costs associated with the application, medical, and police certificate do not have to be paid by your daughter and should not. My fiance paid for everything on his end, meaning whatever is happening in his home country, including the medical and the visa fees. I only paid the initial $340.

We will be splitting the cost of his AOS once he arrives. Also something to keep in mind so you don't think you have to carry all the costs.

[baron555 934]

How does your daughter and her fiance plan to live their lives here? They shouldn't be planning on your help forever.

What kind of job will he be able to obtain once he's able to work?

Maybe they are too young and financially insecure to undergo this very expensive process?

[sassy222 5]

Nich-Nick I-864 is required for co sponsor, not just the I-134, Coryl, do not be discouraged to help your daughter. co-sponsorship does not mean that you have to provide every daily need for your daughter`s fiancé. it is just a guarantee to the government the person coming to the USA is not going to beg on street or getting food stumps. It ensures that he has people to help him while he tries to settle in the country. It won't take long to get an authorization to work while he is here. The government rarely come after people for such contracts. You are not require to pay for him any thing, his fiancé can pay for his insurance. you just watch that his condition does not worsen to such a point that he starts getting food stumps or free stuff from the government. there are also agencies that help new immigrates. by the way the all process is not as expensive as most people say.

Edited February 12, 2015 by sassy222

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

Nich-Nick I-864 is required for co sponsor, not just the I-134,

Yes. I listed both forms.

The I-864 form lists the sponsor's (or joint sponsor's) obligation as written by the government.

What Does Signing the Form I-864 Require Me to do?

If an intending immigrant becomes a permanent resident in the United States based on a Form I-864 that you have signed, then, until your obligations under the Form I-864 terminate, you must:

-- Provide the intending immigrant any support necessary to maintain him or her at an income that is at least 125 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines for his or her household size (100 percent if you are the petitioning sponsor and are on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces and the person is your husband, wife, unmarried child under 21 years old.)

-- Notify USCIS of any change in your address, within 30 days of the change, by filing Form I-865.

[sassy222 5]

Nich-Nick, I understand the requirements of signing I-864 but what trying to let Coryl know these requirements are rarely enforced by the government. The only times they are really enforced is when the immigrate is abused. People do not really need much to live. I do not think Coryl`s future son in law is going to be asking for stuff from him. He can also state that he is supporting his son in law`s bid to stay in the USA till when he get an authorization to work which is a few months after they get married and apply for a green card and authorization to work. Some people never even meet or live with their sponsors. it is not a risky thing to co sponsor people you care about.

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

If my post made it sound like I was discouraging him, that was not my intention. He asked about obligations so I pointed him to the forms to see exactly what he was signing. I don't have an opinion.

[jarj 13]

She needs an annual income of $19,662 to satisfy the requirement. I assume with a part-time job it doesn't add up to that. She can use a co-sponsor. You can check the income requirements here http://www.usavisanow.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/i-864p-2014.pdf

If you are willing, you can be the co-sponsor

for the $19,662, is that the gross or net?

[Nich-Nick 3,354]

for the $19,662, is that the gross or net?

Gross

[CoryL 2]

This has been most educational. We have a differing of opinions in the posts...not strenuous disagreement...I take all this to mean that signing the I-864 is NOT a guarantee or obligation that I will write a $20k check to the immigrating young man every year, but rather that I accept the risk of being a safety net. My daughter and the young man may, in fact, live a spartan life as they go forward as young, hungry college students and newlyweds. That is acceptable.

I also think the I-864 does not obligate me to pay for emergency medical services for him...(note that he is basically healthy)...but, he would have to have health insurance (ie. through the university or the Affordable Care Act Exchange System).

This sounds like a "moderate risk" that would end in 3-4 years when he obtains US citizenship. And I ought to make sure he intends to pursue that citizenship. If he doesn't seek citizenship, is there a time-driven end to the I-864 obligation?

Am I missing anything?